Try fishing at night or try a different technique that you do not use but is known to work well in your area. You can also go fishing in a river for muskie and smallmouth bass which is more fun than catching northern strain largemouth bass in lakes.

From another central Illinois dweller... I landed my first fish of the season today after striking out several times over the past few weeks. And then landed my 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th! Glad to hear you got 'em striking!
 

Ponds tend to have a more limited varity of forage for bass. Because of this pond bass can become very selective and less aggressive feeders and difficult to catch on lures. If the only forage in the pond are green sunfish you better be using something immitating a green sunfish or youre not gonna get bit. 

2 more caught and 2 more than came off in the pouring rain today for an hour or so. I really need to get my rear to the store the get some better quality similar baits and sharper hooks. Very happy to have found what they will eat.

 

2 hours ago, Glaucus said:

2 more caught and 2 more than came off in the pouring rain today for an hour or so. I really need to get my rear to the store the get some better quality similar baits and sharper hooks. Very happy to have found what they will eat.

 

I’m glad you showed that pic I bet that will work in the pond I go to all the time. Most days it has to be green. 

3 minutes ago, Derek1 said:

I’m glad you showed that pic I bet that will work in the pond I go to all the time. Most days it has to be green. 

These are the Berkley PowerBait Swim Shad in 3 inch Fire Tiger. They swim well (although I had to straighten the tails out in boiling water), they catch fish, and they're only $4 for a 5 or 6 pack (can't remember). The hooks aren't the sharpest and they start to rip out the back of the plastic after one aggressive strike. For the money and instant fish catching, they're good, but they won't last and you might lose a good fish. Is it worth it? Depends on the person. I'll be searching for something similar of better quality but I'll also get another pack of these since I know they work.

A few stores around here have tons of the storm ones. I’ll try wich ever one looks better.